Extreme cold forcing Emmonak residents to choose fuel over food

Residents of the Southwest Alaska village of Emmonak are running out of food as a trifecta of bad circumstances have forced them into choosing between high priced fuel or feeding themselves. A combination of a collapsed commercial fishery that left residents without summer income, an early fall freeze up that prevented a final fall barge fuel shipment and an unusual spell of extended cold has left residents in the Yupik village of 800 desperate.

Lori Townsend, APRN – Anchorage

UPDATE 14 JAN 2009: Following several listener/reader questions we contacted our story sources to ask how listeners might be able to help. They suggested donors consider sending a check or box of dry goods to:

Emmonak Tribal Council
PO Box 126
Emmonak, AK 99581

To donate with credit card, call the City of Emmonak at 907-949-1227

To ask questions about the situation there, call Nick Tucker with the tribal council 907-949-1011.